Sumedha Minocha

Cornell University | CU · Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Background The alleviation of iron deficiency through iron supplementation has not effectively reduced anemia in India, mainly due to low compliance. Food fortification with iron is considered a viable alternative, and the provision of double fortified salt (DFS, with iron and iodine) has been mandated in public health programs. Limited evidence ex...

Pulses (also known as legumes) are important in achieving nutrient adequacy in India due to their quality protein content. This study compared district-level pulse production and consumption across India, and household and district-level determinants of pulse intake, including availability, accessibility and affordability, using multi-level models...

Millets can play a role in providing nutrition security as they are rich in various macro and micronutrients, and can help to fight various non-communicable diseases. Hence, a suggestion was made to include them in the basket of goods provided through the public distribution system. The findings of this article suggest that, with the present level...

Objectives: Economic analyses add value beyond evidence to the implementation of any policy. The study explored the association between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and the wages of adult men and women between 15- 49 years in India so that the possible monetary benefits of iron fortification policies could be evaluated. Methods: National sample...

Indian diets and national subsidy programmes are biased towards cereals, offering only limited quality protein. Promoting appropriate levels of production and consumption of high quality foods rich in protein is critical in India's attempts to enhance diet quality and resolve stubbornly high levels of undernutrition. Using nationally representative...

The relevance of protein and its constituent amino acids (AAs) in the structure and function of the human body is well known. Accumulating evidence has conferred specific functional and regulatory roles for individual AAs, adding relevance to their requirements across different age groups. The methods for measuring AA requirements have progressed f...

The daily energy requirements are now based on replacing the measured daily energy expenditure (WHO/FAO/UNU 1985). When energy expenditure is equal to energy intake, energy balance is achieved, and is best indicated by weight stability. The specific energy requirement (expenditure) of a population is calculated using a factorial method that is base...

Background/objectives: Fruits and vegetables are integral parts of a healthy diet. This study evaluated the quantity and diversity of the fruit and vegetable intake in India, with a focus on its distribution across sectors and wealth quintiles. Subjects/methods: A secondary data analysis on the nation-wide NSSO Household Consumer Expenditure Sur...

The connection between the production, availability, and consumption of high-quality food is becoming very important in developing countries. The requirement of protein is linked to its quality, or its digestibility and ability to meet human indispensable amino acid requirements. This requirement is particularly relevant in India, where commonly co...

Weather-related production risks remain one of the most serious constraints to agricultural production in much of the developing world. Financial and technological innovations that mitigate these risks have the potential to greatly benefit farmers in areas prone to such risks. In this study we examine farmers’ preferences for two distinct tools tha...